4: Friends of Te Henui

Gull (Red Billed) Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae scopulinus

Phylum: ChordataClass: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae Genus: ChroicocephalusSpecies: C. scopulinusSubspecies: C. n. scopulinusTrinomial name: Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae scopulinusSynonyms: Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus, Larus scopulinusCommon name: Silver gull, Red-billed gullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae scopulinus (Red-billed gull) is a New Zealand native gull. Their size is 37 cm with the male being up to 300 g while the female is up to 260 g. Grey and white gull are found mainly off the coast. Like Black-billed Gull but shorter deeper bill and boldly patterned wingtips. The adult head, underparts and tail are white, sometimes pinkish on the breast; back and wings pearly grey, except wingtips black with small white window. Short deep bright red bill; legs and feet red; eye white. Juvenile and 1st year have a larger dark patch at wingtip and very small, if any, white window. Bill dark with pink near base; legs pale flesh to reddish black; eye brown. Habitat: Breeds subantarctic from Africa to the Chatham Island; in NZ region, on the coast from Three Kings to Campbell Is; inland colony at Lake Rotorua. Common in coastal waters, beaches and estuaries; only occasionally (but sometimes in large flocks) inland to wet paddocks, playing fields and lakes. Breeding: Oct-Feb.